Help Sergeant Rex, a war veteran, reunite stateside.

Sergeant Rex served America with honors in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In his two tours of duty, he helped find IED’s – the roadside bombs that have injured and killed thousands of soldiers – so that the bombs could be disarmed. He and his team – which included Marine Corporal Megan Leavey, a decorated Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran – did everything that was asked of them; they fought the war so we could achieve peace.

In 2006, however, an IED detonated, injuring both Rex and Leavey. They were injured, and while Rex returned to active duty, Leavey remained stateside, where she earned a Purple Heart and a Combat Valor Medal for her efforts.

Sergeant Rex continued to serve in Iraq until a short time ago, when, after ten years of service overseas, he has reached his mandatory retirement. And for the past few years, Marine Corporal Leavey has petitioned the military so that Sergeant Rex can return from the Middle East and spend his final years with her in Rockland County, New York.

Here’s a picture of Leavey and Rex during their time in Iraq.

In case you’re wondering, Leavey is the one with the assault rifle and Rex is the one with the dog collar.

See, “Sergeant Rex” is a German Shepherd, who was trained to sniff out and detect IED’s. Rex’s efforts have saved the lives of countless American soldiers and infantrymen. But once Rex reached his mandatory retirement age of 10 years, he was classified as “excess.” Marine Corporal Leavey wants to adopt her military teammate, and it would seem like a simple request.

However, that request has been snarled in a Gordian knot of bureaucratic red tape, and unless someone can slice through the knot like Alexander the Great, it is possible that Sergeant Rex may not reunite with Marine Corporal Leavey – and, in fact, since Rex is in declining health, there is the possibility that he could be euthanized.

Enter Senator Charles Schumer. Schumer has announced a petition drive to reunite Sergeant Rex with Marine Corporal Leavey. The online petition, which can be viewed and signed here, includes these words of hope and encouragement:

We, the undersigned Americans, urge the Department of the Air Force to immediately approve Corporal Leavey’s application for adoption of her former brother-in-arms, Sgt. Rex. At ten years old, and after multiple tours of duty, time is of the essence. We implore the U.S. Airforce to expedite Corporal Leavey’s application and ensure that these two war heroes are reunited so that Sgt. Rex can share the rest of his days with the one person who knows him best and is deeply bonded with him.

Over 16,000 people have signed the petition so far – over 16,000 people who not only appreciate what our soldiers have done for us overseas, but who also want their service to be recognized and their last years to be peaceful and tranquil.

And how great would it be that someone who would willingly give his life to save his military brethren, could spend the final years of his life chewing on a bone or fetching a stick.